Ladder



C. A. RICH.

LADDER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21, 1919.

1 53,270. PatentedSept. 21, 1920.

INI E N TOE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHESTER 'A. RICH, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE RICH PUMP COMPANY, 7

OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

LADDER.

Specification of Letters latent. Pate ted S t 2 1 i920 Application filed March 21, 1919. Serial No. 284,088.

T 0 all whom-it may concern:

Be it' known that I, CHESTER A. RICH, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

One of the principal difficulties encountered .in ladders as ordinarily constructed is the loosening of the rounds in the course of time, thus rendering the ladder somewhat unsafe and also affording loose joints wherein water may accumulate and eventually cause the roundsto rot within the sides or rails of the ladder.

An object of my inventionis to produce an improved ladder in which loosing of the rounds through shrinkage and other causes is preventedthroughout the'lifetime of the ladder.

This and other objects are attained in the ladder described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1, is a perspective view showing the portions of the ladder in position ready for the assembling operations, the sides or rails being shown fragmentally.

Fig. 2, is a fragmental erspective view of the ladder after assembling the elements thereof.

Fig. 3, is a fragmental. front elevation. of I the ladder upon an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4:, is a side elevation ofthe portion of the ladder disclosed in Fig. 3, and also upon an enlarged scale. V

Fig. 5, is a much enlarged view of an end of a ladder round in position within the socket provided for it in the side or rail of the ladder.

My improved ladder consists of the usual side rail members 7 and 8, and the usual rounds 9 which form the steps of the ladder. As is common in all ladder constructions the ends 10 of each round are somewhat reduced and fit within the openings 11 provided at spaced intervals in the sides. To prevent separatlon ofthe sides from the rounds I preferably drive brads or other fastening devlces 12 through the sides and through the ends 10 as shown, in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. l

' Thus far the description of my improved ladder applies also to ordinary ladders.

The feature of novelty of my ladders consists in the treatment of the elements of the ladder preparatory tothe assembling operation. I prepare the ends 10 of each round by thoroughly creosoting them so that the wood is thoroughly impregnated. After this operation the elements are assembled in the manner above described. The action of the creosote upon the ends 10 is to prevent V the wood thereof from shrinldng Within the sockets 11, provided in the rails 7 and 8, thus avoidingthe gradual loosening of the ladder elements with relation to each other and simultaneously preventing to a great extent the forming of pockets or recesses for the entrance of moisture which would result in rotting either the ends 10 or the wood of the sockets 11 in the sides of rails 7 and 8 of p the ladder.

Having thus described my invention that which I claim is V 1. A ladder comprising rails and rounds located between the rails, the ends of the rounds having an impregnation of material adapted to prevent shrinkage thereof within the-rails.

2. A ladder comprising rails having ends creosoted, and located within the sockets, whereby shrinkage of the ends within the sockets is prevented.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 19th day of March, 1919. v

CHESTER A. RICH.

sockets therein, and rounds having their. 

